merry christmas and happy new year - strong …...year and look forward to working with and for you...

GPO Box 158, Canberra ACT 2601

e [email protected] t 02 6207 9784

w http://www.communityservices.act.gov.au/atsia

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

IN THIS EDITION – December 2016

Contents

Director’s Message .................................................................................................................................. 2

Minister’s Message ................................................................................................................................. 3

ACT Government ..................................................................................................................................... 4

Community Services Directorate............................................................................................................. 4

Uniting Children and Families ACT program ........................................................................................... 5

Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate ....................................................... 6

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body ................................................................................. 8

What is the ACT Office for Women Return to Work Grants Program? ................................................... 8

Mura Gunya “Pathway to Home” Update ............................................................................................. 10

Community News ..................................................................................................................................11

What has been your experience with the NDIS? .................................................................................. 11

Marymead celebrates 50 years in 2017 ................................................................................................11

Free Comedy Workshops ...................................................................................................................... 12

Forums/Events ......................................................................................................................................13

Yarramundi Market Day 2017 – Save the date! .................................................................................... 13

Staff Profile – Jonelle (Suzie) Hoolihan ..................................................................................................13

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Bus ..........................................................................15

ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Centre ....................................................................16




Director’s Message

Welcome to the last edition of the Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs (OA&TSIA)

Newsletter for 2016.

Following the recent ACT Legislative Assembly elections, we welcome Ms Rachel Stephen-Smith MLA,

our new Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs and look forward to working closely

with her for the benefit of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community. OA&TSIA would also

like to extend our thanks and gratitude to the outgoing Minister Dr Chris Bourke for his tireless efforts,

his commitment and his support in keeping Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs in the ACT and

surrounding region a government priority.

On 1st December we opened the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Grants Program. You will

find information about the grants and how to apply inside this newsletter.

We welcome Ms Suzie Hoolihan and Mr. Matthew Trynes to our team and say goodbye and thank you

to Mr. Darryl Miller. We would like to wish Darryl all the best in his new ventures.

From all the staff at OA&TSIA, we would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Safe and Happy New

Year and look forward to working with and for you in the New Year.

The office will be closed over the Christmas period from the 23rd December 2016 and re-open on the

3rd January 2017.

Enjoy the read, and as always, if you have anything to contribute to future editions, please contact the

office.

Robyn Forester Director

Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs

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Minister’s Message

It is with great pleasure that I write my first message to you as Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander Affairs. I feel privileged to take on this portfolio and to have the opportunity to grow my

understanding and appreciation of the ACT’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their

connection to country.

This has been an incredibly busy and challenging year with the caretaker period and a new

Government and Ministry appointed. I’m grateful to the OA&TSIA staff for their work in bringing me

up to speed on this portfolio and I look forward to working closely with you, as well as elders and the

community, towards the shared vision of strong families that we have committed to through the

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Agreement.

Looking ahead to next year, I am excited that as part of National Reconciliation Week we will be

celebrating two very significant milestones for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples - the 50th

anniversary of the referendum and the 25th anniversary of the Mabo High Court decision. I know many

of you are already hard at work planning these celebrations and I look forward to taking part in them.

But before we embark on a new year I hope you are all able to take a much needed break for the

festive season. I would like thank you for your contribution in 2016 and to wish you and your families a

safe and joyous Christmas and holiday season.

Rachel Stephen-Smith

Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs

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ACT Government

Community Services Directorate

Applications for all three streams of this year’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Grants Programs have now opened, with a total of $200,000 in funding available to encourage and support ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents to undertake study and training, and to promote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture in the community.

Under the Cultural and Leadership Grants programs individuals can apply for up to $3,000 and organisations up to $10,000 to fund activities aimed at empowering participants to develop their individual skills and to represent their oganisations to strengthen the Canberra and wider Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Under the Scholarship program individuals can apply for up to $5,000 to undertake study and training that will enhance and support their employment prospects in the ACT and further develop their skills.

All three grants programs work towards fostering an engaged and connected community in which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture is valued and celebrated.

These grants programs demonstrate an ongoing commitment by the ACT Government to the aims of the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Agreement 2015-18, by working with ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Canberrans to improve cultural and educational outcomes, and to share a positive vision for the future of our community.

Applications close at 5.00pm on Tuesday 31 January 2017.

More information can be found at www.communityservices.act.gov.au/atsia/grants.

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http://www.communityservices.act.gov.au/atsia/grants




Uniting Children and Families ACT program In January 2016, Uniting began delivering a range of brand new services in the ACT through the

Children and Families ACT program. Uniting works with vulnerable families to make positive changes

in their lifestyles and relationships with their children, family and other adults. Members of the

Children and Families ACT program team work with families in their homes, or at alternative home-like

environment, for 12 to 18 months. The kind of support that is provided includes:

Managing home and family

Building relationships

Parent and child interactions

Setting boundaries

Addressing mental health, drug and alcohol and domestic violence concerns.

Jaanimili is the Uniting Aboriginal

Service and Development Unit which

supports the work undertaken with

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

families.

Referral to the Children and Families

ACT program is made through Child

and Youth Protection Services (CYPS)

with the family’s consent and

participation in the program is

voluntary. This program is an

initiative of A Step Up for Our Kids

(Out of Home Care Strategy 2015-

2020).

For more information, please contact

Uniting on 02 9268 3870 or email

[email protected]

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https://uniting.org/our-services/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islanders-services/jaanimili

http://www.communityservices.act.gov.au/ocyfs/out-of-home-care-strategy-2015-2020



mailto:[email protected]




Environment, Planning and Sustainable

Development Directorate Country and Culture in Schools

Greening Australia’s Indigenous Officer Adam Shipp ran

two 8 week cultural programs in schools across the ACT.

15 students aged 16 to 18 participated in the vocational

learning program involving a number of cultural and

conservation and land management activities. The

highlights for the students was learning about local bush

foods, cultural sites and Aboriginal land management

skills led by Adam and assisted by Ngunnawal Elders and

ACT Government staff in the Education Directorate, EPSDD

ACT Natural Resource Management and ACT Parks Murumbung Rangers.

ACT Parks Murumbung Rangers

The warmer months brings more

opportunities for people to get out on

Country! See the link below for ideas of

where to go/things to do. We’ve been

hosting many ranger guided activities,

including a special trip to Namadgi in

conjunction with Ngunnawal Custodians for

the ACT Judiciary. The Murumbung Rangers

attended the annual pre-season bushfire fire

training program run by the ACT Parks Fire

Management Unit, and Ngunnawal man Brendan Little was sponsored by ACT Parks to attend a week-

long nationally accredited beginners bushfire course and can now assist with specific projects under

the ACT Aboriginal Fire Management Framework. We’re very excited about the establishment of a

new Healthy Country section within the ACT Parks and Conservation Service and pending recruitment

of an Indigenous Identified Healthy Country Manager.

Watch this space for more details in the next newsletter! http://www.environment.act.gov.au/parks-

conservation/parks-and-reserves.

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Some of the ACT Parks Murumbung Rangers at the annual pre-season bushfire training course.

Field trip to the rock art site in Namadgi for the ACT Judiciary in November.

http://www.environment.act.gov.au/

http://www.environment.act.gov.au/

http://www.environment.act.gov.au/parks-conservation/parks-and-reserves

http://www.environment.act.gov.au/parks-conservation/parks-and-reserves




Canberra Institute of Technology

CIT Yurauna Centre 2016 year of achievements

The CIT Yurauna Centre has had another incredibly successful year, with a highlight being a vibrant ceremony involving students, teachers and international visitors to launch the CIT Reconciliation Stretch Action Plan 2016-19.

2016 saw Yurauna Centre’s Roxanne Brown win for a second year the CIT Teacher Student Association’s “Best Teacher of the Year Award”.

Our very active Aboriginal Student Ambassador Ethan Taylor has become a role model for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and other students. Former Aboriginal Student Ambassadors have researched and produced compelling stories about some of our inspirational Elders and Leaders on their contribution to the Australian community as part of an exhibition planned for 2017.

The Yurauna Centre’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Arts program delivered many fantastic artwork pieces this year. Students exhibited a piece Our Dreaming at Floriade and participated in excursions to seek inspiration.

The Centre saw two very successful students complete their Certificate III in Community Service (CHC32015)

within the full-time semester timeframe.

The Centre’s ACT Road Ready program to encourage safe driving among our young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students was also a huge success.

Yurauna Centre students were enthusiastic helpers in all the events held throughout the year, helping the staff to organise and run cultural and sport activities, feed the crowds, pack up and much more.

We have had a very successful and productive year and expect 2017 to be just as rewarding.

Keep up to date with our events by following us on facebook.com/CITYuraunaCentre.

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NAIDOC WEEK

NAIDOC WEEK

Outdoor Learning Embassy Work




Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected

Body

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What is the ACT Office for Women Return to

Work Grants Program? The Program aims to enable the provision of practical financial support to women returning to the

workforce by providing funding for them to attend short courses, pay for child care to attend

interviews as well as more formal training or education. It may also provide support for the purchase

of equipment or clothing directly related to the woman’s return to work for women on low incomes

including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, women from culturally and linguistically

diverse backgrounds, women with disabilities, younger women and older women requiring

assistance in returning to paid work following caring for a child/ family member or community

member for more than twelve months in the period of their lives.




Each grant provides up to $1000 in assistance for women enrolling in training or other employment

associated costs that will improve their workforce skills or capacities.

For more information on the Women Return to Work Grants Program and other grants run by the

ACT Office for Women:

Visit: http://www.communityservices.act.gov.au/women/grants_and_scholarships

Call: (02) 62052885 Email: [email protected]

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http://www.communityservices.act.gov.au/women/grants_and_scholarships





Mura Gunya “Pathway to Home” Update The last issue of the OATSIA Newsletter ran a story on the opening of The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Older Person’s Housing – Mura Gunya “Pathway to Home”. ACT Housing is pleased to announce that the complex has been fully allocated to tenants. The tenants for Mura Gunya were selected from the public housing waiting list and meet the specific eligibility criteria for this complex. The new tenants have come from a variety of backgrounds, with some tenants transferring from properties that didn’t meet their needs as older residents, while others were high priority applicants for allocation of a property. Because the units at Mura Gunya were designed to be adaptable, tenants will be able to live independently a lot longer. Features such as; wide hallways and kitchens/bathrooms that can be easily modified to accommodate their changing mobility and health, means that residents can age in place and not be forced to move as they get older. Mura Gunya also includes a shared garden area with a covered BBQ space and fire pit for residents and their family to use. New residents have also reported that Mura Gunya has an unexpected mascot and neighbour. Since moving in, a number of residents have reported that a young Kangaroo seems to be hanging around the bushes near the back of the complex. Let’s hope that the Joey decides to hang around and make Mura Gunya his/her home.

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Community News

What has been your experience with the

NDIS?

Do you want to tell the government about your experience of the NDIS? The good and the bad.

Independent Consultants (the Nous Group) are writing a report to government about how the NDIS is working (or not working) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and they're keen to talk with anyone over the age of 18 who wants to share their story. They can meet up with you at your place, in a coffee shop or at their office. There will also be a small subsidy payment for your time. We are sending this request to you because we think that it is important that the government receives a well- informed report about how the NDIS is working for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

For further information email [email protected] or call the project team on:

Kassmena Birch – 02 6201 9039 Camilla Lonsdale – 02 6201 9004

We look forward to hearing from you soon. Please also check out the Facebook The Opening Doors Project page.

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Marymead celebrates 50 years in 2017

Marymead officially opened its doors in Canberra on the 26th of February 1967. To celebrate this

important milestone a number of events will be held throughout the year including a Family Picnic

Day on Sunday 26th February 2017, exactly 50 years to the day of the official opening. The picnic will

be held at Marymead’s Narrabundah location from 11.30am until 3.00pm and will include free

activities for the kids and food and soft drinks available for purchase via a gold coin donation.

https://www.facebook.com/OpeningDoorsProject/?hc_ref=PAGES_TIMELINE&fref=nf




Opening Doors Project

Over the past six months Marymead has engaged in the Opening Doors Project, an NDIA funded project to support the cultural capacity building of mainstream disability service organisations in the ACT. The impetus for this has been the limited uptake of the NDIS support options by the ACT Aboriginal community. The Nous Group has supported Marymead's engagement in the Opening Doors Project, facilitating conversations around Marymead's aspirations for improving service provision to the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, assisting to identify where capacity building is needed and connecting Marymead to local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services and networks. Through the Opening Doors Project, Marymead has been fortunate to collaborate with Coolamon Advisors to re-shape our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) into a meaningful, productive framework comprised of pro-active aspirations for enhancing our organisational cultural sensitivity. Marymead has the enthusiasm and belief in its capacity, to work respectfully and appropriately with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and has already cultivated meaningful relationships with a variety of service organisations and individuals from the community.

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Free Comedy Workshops He’s Australia’s premier Aboriginal comedy star, he’s been on NITV’s Express Yourself, the Aboriginal

Comedy All Stars and the Deadly Funny and now Kevin Kropinyeri is coming to Canberra!

Join this deadly but cracked, funny fella for free Comedy workshops from

Tuesday 21 February – Thursday 23 February 2017.

The workshops are open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children

from 10 years up, teenagers and adults.

In the two hour workshop, Kevin Kropinyeri will teach

participants:

- Comedy and presentation skills

- Stage presence

- How to perform confidently

- How to have no shame

- How to be strong and deadly!

If you’d like to join in individually or hold a group session – contact Nevanka or Rauny at the

Tuggeranong Arts Centre for more info or to book your spot on 6293 1443 or email:

[email protected]

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Forums/Events Yarramundi Market Day 2017 –

Save the date!

The next Yarramundi Markets will be held on Saturday 4th

February 2017 at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

Cultural Centre.

If you are interested in holding a stall please email the Office of

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs to express your

interest – [email protected].

More details will be released in the coming weeks.

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Staff Profile – Jonelle (Suzie) Hoolihan 1. Where are you from?

I am a Warumungu/Arrernte woman and was born and raised

in Alice Springs. I come from a large family who are spread

throughout the Northern Territory and across the country.

2. When did you start working for the ACT government? 5 September 2016

3. What was your previous work? I worked in Commonwealth Government for about 18 years before taking time out to be a

stay-at-home mum (again). I have always worked in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

affairs across a broad range of program and policy areas.

4. What is your current position? I am currently working with OATSIA as a Communication and Engagement Officer. My role is

very broad and focuses on co-coordinating ACT Government directorate input into

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander budget initiatives including developing a proposal for an

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Strategy. I still have a lot to learn in this role but

as my term is limited, it would be great to see the Cultural Strategy come to realisation.





5. What did you want to be when you were growing up? I can’t recall what I wanted to be but I do remember starting my first job as a NESA Trainee

in the 80’s and thinking that I wanted to keep working with my community. This was to be

the start of a long and interesting time working in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

affairs.

6. What do you believe is key to a successful community? I believe a successful community is one that looks after and supports each other and draws

on our strengths as a community to benefit change. To me it’s also about acknowledging and

accepting that we may not always get it right but if we are together we can make a

difference no matter how small it is.

7. What impact would you like to make on the community? The impact I would like to make is by helping and supporting our young ones to excel in

whatever they do. As potential future leaders in our community it is important to support

and encourage our young ones to keep going, to try to make a difference wherever and

whenever they can.

8. Who is your role model? I don’t really have a role model as many people have influenced my personal and

professional life. I have been taught a lot of life lessons (good and bad) on my journey and

believe this is what has helped to shape me into the person I am today.

9. What is something that we don’t know about you? Although I haven’t done it for awhile, I love beading and have made a few of my own

necklaces. There’s something very therapeutic about focusing on threading tiny little beads

and coming up with different designs to make.

10. What is something that you would love to achieve one day or tick off your bucket list? I am slowly piecing together my Grandmother and Great-Grandmother’s stories and would

love to return to their country to live and learn about their journey and how our extended

families and country are connected.

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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Bus

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Bus is now available to transport you and your

family around Canberra and the surrounding regions if you have limited access to other transport

options.

How does the bus work?

The Community Bus operates Monday to Friday during business hours. If you need transport in and

around Canberra, you can make a booking for the bus to pick you up and drop you off.

The mini bus has 12 seats and wheelchair access and can be booked for groups and events.

The bus can go as far as Queanbeyan, Yass, Cooma, Goulburn and Braidwood.

How do I book the bus?

To book a trip on the bus simply email your details to [email protected] or call (02) 6205

1116 or 13 17 10. You need to make your booking two days before you want to travel so we can

schedule you in.

When making your booking we need the following details:

address of pick up location

pick up time

address of drop off location

how many passengers are catching the bus?

The bus will try to take the quickest route to your destination; however it may have to stop for other

passengers in different locations. You will receive a confirmation email when your booking is

approved.

Who can use the bus?

The Community bus is available to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders living in and around

Canberra who do not have easy access to an ACTION bus. We welcome all passengers especially:

Elders in the community

Parents with young children who have limited transport alternatives

Social groups

Sporting teams (by arrangement)

People who are isolated and cannot access normal travel options

For further information contact the Flexible Transport Office on (02) 6205 1116 or 13 17 10.

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ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Centre

The ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Centre is a unique piece of Canberra’s history.

Originally the temporary home of the National Museum of Australia the site was handed to the ACT

Government for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Centre in 2000.

It is a perfect location for hosting events such as meetings, conferences, workshops and other private

functions like weddings, promotional stalls, small scale musical performances, and Christmas functions.

There is free onsite parking for 70-80 vehicles which is a bonus. Hire rates start from $206, so if you’re

looking for a venue to hold a function, contact the Cultural Centre Manager at

[email protected] or phone on 6207 1110.

More info: See website

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Subscribe for regular information

Do you receive regular information and updates through the ACT Indigenous Network? If not, why not

subscribe to the distribution list?

The email group was established over 10 years ago, initially for Canberra’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander Public Servants to share news, events and general information.

Over the years the membership has grown and now includes national and international affiliates. Members

are both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and organisations and non-Indigenous people and

organisations with an interest in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs.

To subscribe follow this link

Want to publish something in this newsletter?

If you would like to share a story about yourself, someone you know, or any upcoming project and/or events

of interest to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander community, please send your entry to

[email protected] or call 6207 9784.

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http://www.communityservices.act.gov.au/atsia/cultural_centre

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/actindnetwork/info

mailto:[email protected]%20r

merry christmas and happy new year - strong …...year and look forward to working with and for you...

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